Author Correction: Carbon sinks and carbon emissions balance of land use transition in Xinjiang, China: differences...

Carbon is the basis of all organic matter on Earth, and is recycled through the ecosystem in two primary processes: one in which carbon is exchanged among living organisms, and one in which carbon is cycled over long periods of time through fossilized organic remains, weathering of rocks, and volcanic activity. Human activities, including increased agricultural practices and the burning of fossil fuels, has greatly affected the balance of the natural carbon cycle.

Though evaporation from plant leaves drives transpiration, it also results in loss of water. Because water is critical for photosynthetic reactions and other cellular processes, evolutionary pressures on plants in different environments have driven the acquisition of adaptations that reduce water loss.

Carbon CycleThe carbon cycle shows how carbon travels between the air, land, water, and living things. Plants take in carbon dioxide from the air during photosynthesis to make their food. Animals get carbon by eating plants, and they release carbon back into the air through respiration. When plants and animals die, decomposers break them down, returning carbon to the soil and air. Burning fossil fuels also adds carbon to the atmosphere. By studying the carbon cycle, scientists can better...

Avoiding Soil LossSoil is essential for plant growth, water filtration, and supporting ecosystems, but it can be lost due to erosion, deforestation, and poor farming practices. When soil is removed faster than it can be replaced, it leads to reduced fertility, increased flooding, and damaged landscapes. Scientists and engineers work to develop solutions to prevent soil loss and maintain healthy land for farming, construction, and natural habitats. Science and Engineering Practices (SEP):...

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

The xylem of vascular plants distributes water and dissolved minerals that are taken up by the roots to the rest of the plant. The cells that transport xylem sap are dead upon maturity, and the movement of xylem sap is a passive process.